Some thoughts on the Matthew Barney show at the Guggenheim. The notes are in response to an email on thingist from a netizen known as a-nd which I quote below.

a-nd wrote: First off i had seen part of Cremaster 2 some years back and had walked about halfway through the film because of a variety of feelings (disturbed, dislike, resistance, disgust, boredom). Having had that experience i wasn’t sure what to expect of the exhibit and i went there a bit resistant. In the end i can’t say i came out of the Guggenheim with a feeling of dislike, etc. as i expected. I felt detached/removed/disengaged from the exhibit in every way and i think with all the people around me that only made the experience worse. On the other hand i am very much curious to watch Cremaster5 because from what i saw in the exhibit i think i would greatly enjoy it. I plan to go back to the Guggenheim on a weekday when hopefully there will be less people. t.whid replies:

I have ambivalent feelings toward the films. (I can never keep ‘em straight either). The first one I saw was the one which takes place on the Isle of Man and I thought it was brilliant. Barney is great at creating enthralling mecho-psycho-sexual scenes and tableaus that make you squirm and want to take part in them at the same time.

The next film I saw was the one in the opera house with Ursala Andress and it was over-wrought, self-indulgent and boring as hell and I wanted to kill him for forcing me to go through it. Of course I wasn’t forced, but artists who work in linear narrative video or film seem to need a lesson in thinking a little about the audience’s stamina.

a-nd wrote: As far as the people who i was with, one person said the exhibit felt violating, another was really put off by lack of understanding, expecting to understand but not really getting it and feeling like everyone else around was in the same boat. t.whid replies:

What didn’t they get? He does have an obtuse narrative that travels through the Cremaster films that isn’t always clear (purposefully IMO). Sometimes I wish he was a bit more up front with his narrative but I get the feeling that he’s reflecting what he sees as obsessions of our contemporary culture.

I love his obsessive attention to detail. Perhaps it’s the part of me that is into fantasy films and literature, but Barney’s world seems to be fully realized to the last detail. From the seams on the costumes to the genitals on the water faeries, he doesn’t miss a thing.

The Guggenheim installation is especially fun as it’s the set in the last (chronologically in order of production) film. He’s subverted this landmark into merely being a set for one of his films. With all the props in place you begin to feel that you’re part of the piece now, you’re in the work. It was fun.

a-nd wrote: I think there was a real sense of somehow feeling locked out, like no one was getting anything out of it. Too much ego, too much narcissism. t.whid replies:

I feel that any narcissism or ego you feel was brought with you. I’m sure Barney has a healthy ego and is as narcissistic as every other artist I’ve ever known, but the work doesn’t seem to exude that feeling IMO. I’m sure people will feel that way about the work but IMO it’s simple jealousy at his success. As I looked at the show I couldn’t imagine any other artist of his generation pulling something off this big. He practically filled the entire museum.. and he’s only 36, pretty impressive. permanent link to this post